The Varsity

Live from the National Association of Broadcasters Show in Las Vegas, top NBC exec Jon Miller joins John for a candid conversation about his network’s strategy for competing with trillion-dollar, sports-hungry streamers. He also discusses why MLB left money on the table to partner with NBC, whether the sports rights bubble is real, where Peacock fits in NBC’s bigger picture, and much more.

This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating for
regulated, responsible, and legal online sports betting. Learn more at
sportsbettingalliance.org.

NBC Sports’ Matthew Berry joins John to discuss this week’s NFL Draft through a fantasy football lens—and what to watch for when the picks start rolling in. They also dig into ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network and what fans should expect from the programming. The NFL’s media rights negotiations come into focus too, along with a bigger picture conversation about the evolution—and future—of fantasy sports.

This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating for
regulated, responsible, and legal online sports betting. Learn more at
sportsbettingalliance.org.

Dylan Byers joins John to parse the Diana Russini–Mike Vrabel scandal, and shed light on the tensions it has exposed between The New York Times and The Athletic. Dylan breaks down the Times’ internal investigation, The Athletic’s initial defensive posture, and what the episode reveals about the ongoing challenges of integrating the two newsrooms.

This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating for
regulated, responsible, and legal online sports betting. Learn more at
sportsbettingalliance.org.

Michael Nathanson rejoins the pod to discuss what the NFL must do to lock in its next round of media deals ahead of September’s kickoff—and what’s at stake if it doesn’t. They also examine the potential ripple effects of the D.O.J.’s latest investigation, which Michael says could spell more trouble for broadcasters than for the NFL itself. Plus, Michael explains why he believes the sports media landscape writ large is as strong as it’s ever been.

This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating for
regulated, responsible, and legal online sports betting. Learn more at
sportsbettingalliance.org.

NBC Sports’s Mike Florio joins John to tackle the most pressing questions facing the NFL as it stares down a highly consequential offseason—from looming media rights negotiations and the potential loss of its antitrust exemption to referee labor talks, the continued push for an 18-game schedule, the league’s expanding appetite for marquee midweek games, and much more.

This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating for
regulated, responsible, and legal online sports betting. Learn more at
sportsbettingalliance.org.

Kentucky Wildcat legend and former NBA veteran Jamal Mashburn joins John to break down the strange duality of college basketball, where the business is increasingly chaotic but the on-court product has arguably never looked better. He explains how mid-majors can navigate the N.I.L. maze, emphasizes the growing premium on education and career development for student-athletes, and reflects on how his own playing career laid the groundwork for his second act as an entrepreneur.

This show is brought to you by the Sports Betting Alliance, advocating for
regulated, responsible, and legal online sports betting. Learn more at
sportsbettingalliance.org.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan joins John to break down the sweeping changes reshaping MLB—from the new robo umps to the ripple effects of the pitch clock. They also discuss Netflix’s MLB debut and baseball’s evolving streaming future, the global momentum of the World Baseball Classic, whether Olympic participation is finally within reach, and much more.

Top ESPN exec Susie Piotrkowski joins John to talk about the explosion of women’s sports, from the surging popularity of the WNBA and women’s college basketball to the growing reach of the NWSL. She also dives deep into ESPN’s push to mainstream the category, including the launch of “Women’s Sports Sundays” this summer—and discusses how stars like Trinity Rodman and Caitlin Clark are accelerating the shift.

On the Draymond Green Show, no topic is off limits. In this episode Draymond welcomes Skip Bayless to discuss Michael Jordan, Stephen A Smith, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and they debate whether or not Draymond is really the dirtiest player of all time. 

The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand joins John to break down the biggest media storylines shaping the MLB season—from its Netflix “experiment” to the future of the World Series and World Baseball Classic. They also dig into the NFL’s looming rights negotiations and whether the league is pushing too far with its ask, plus what the PSKY-WBD deal could mean for the future of March Madness.